Sickle holder and sharpener



Dec. 11, 1956 F. w. BUSCH 2,773,334

SICKLE HOLDER AND SHARPENER Filed Nov. 1. 1954 I NVENTOR EWB'u/sch 4%? ATTORNEY United Q States Patent SIGKLE HOLDER D sHARPENER .NFerdinandWJBnseh, Berlin, N. Bait.

Application November 1, 1954,1Seriai No."465;789

4 Claims. (Cl. 51-96) This invention relates to a: novel: holder and sharpener for acsickleibladeaand more particularly" to aholder and sharpener whiehi is :detachably supported on a workbench or table aridwhich may 'be readily removed therefrom whenrnotin use.

iAnother object I of the inventioniiisr to provide 1 aiholder and csharpenerxb'y meansuiof which the teeth 'of asickle blade'mayttbe:accuratelysharpened. t

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder andsharp'enerzhaving means whereby the periphery of ra sharpening wheel may :be angularly adjusted relative toitheiplane ofa sickleblade for varying the angle at :rwhich "the teeth are sharpened.

A .zfurther object of the invention is to provide a holder and "sharpener 'by means :of which the sickle blade iszsupported in aposition to enable thezoperator to :most readily viewnthe portion of the sickle blade which is being: presented to and sharpened by the sharpening wheel.

iiStillaa further object of the invention is to provide atholder -an'd:sharpener of extremely simple construction whichimay be very-economically manufactured and sold, yet which will be extremely eflicient and durable *for accomplishing its intended purpose.

'Marious othertobjects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more -fully apparent =from ithe following description of thedrawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

:Figure'lsisa top plan View of the holder andsharpener showntmounted on a workbench or-table;

Figure 2 is a front elevationabview thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view 'takenwsubstantiallytalonga pl-anexas tindicated 'by' the line--3-3of Figure 1,? and Figure-4 is an enlarged fragmentary --ver tical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicatedby the line 4-4 of-Figure 2. t

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the sickle holder and sharpener .in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally '7. F or the purpose of illustrating na preferred mounting of the tool holder and sharpener 7, a table tor workbench top 8 is illustrated which may bessupported-in an elevated position by suitable supporting legs which depend from the -underside thereof, portionstof which are shown inFigurest2 and 3 and designated 9.

'Ihe holder 7 includes an elongated supporting bar 10 which may betofia length greater than therlength -of the .table ,or bench top 8 and which is provided with a pairtof-depending foot members 11 each-of whichis of considerable ilength in a direction longitudinally of the bar 10. :TheJfoot members l-lthave relatively long-eoplanarbottorn surfaces 12 which are adapted to rest upon the upper side of the table top 8 near one longitudinal edge thereof, and said 'foot members are preferably of a width corresponding to the width of the supporting bar 10,as seen'in Figure'3. The supporting bar 10'an'd its Iootmeriibers 11 are detachably andswingably connected 2,773,334 Patented Dec. 11, 1956 ice tothe table top '8by a pair Sf'hinges 13 includingldwer leaves *14 which are secured to the longitlrdinal edge 15 of the table-'top"*8. The other upper hinge leaves1'6 are connected to'the outer sides of thefoot menibersllL The hinge pinsl Tconnectingthe leaves "14*and 16 of the hinges 13 mayberemoved sothat the suppofting bar 10 can be thus "detached from the table top&

The supporting bar-10 supports threeeyebolts 18 which are anchored therein and extend upwardly therefrom and the eyes ot whi'eh are located in alignnrent. :The eyebolts l8=are loeated adjacent the endsand intermediate of the ends or the supportingbar'It). A rod 19'extends slidably through the eyes of the bolts 1-8 and is sup'ported thereby substantially abo've and*substantiallyparallel to the supporting bar 10. The rod 19 has ahead "ZO 'at one end thereofbearingagainst theouter side 'of one of theendybdltslBhridhas a nut or collarj2 1 detachably retained -on the opposite end thereof and bearing against theotiter-side"of the other end eyebolt 18 for retaining the rod in engagement" with the 'e'ye'bolts.

A blade support, "designated generally 22, includes an elongatedbar '23 which is preferablyof a length'sdinewhat in excess-of one-half of the {length of "the bar "10. A pair of'irigid arms 24 is secured to the "rear side of 'the bar 23- adjacent the-ends thereof, and'said arms 24 -extend laterally "from an upper 'or 'iback edge U 25 or *the bar 23. A handle 26eXtends between and is secured to theouter free ends of the 'a'rrns24 and is supported thereby in 'spaced substantially parallel relation to the bar 23. The "bla'de h0lder 22is provided with a'pair of eyeb'olts 27 which 1 preferably 1 are secured to t ancl pr'oj'ect from the 'arms '24, nar their opposite ends, and in a direction away from the bar 23. The eyeb0lts '27 are preferably :spaced apart "a distanceisubstantially corresponding to 'the spacing 1 between adjaeent i eye screws "18 and slidably engage 1 the rod 1 9' on i opposite "sides 1 of the intermediate eye screw 18.

The blade supporting-bar 23*inclu'des a frontface 28 a'ndva bottomedge-29. Said front face 28, adjacent the bottom edge '29, :is provided "with a groove 30 which ei'itends' froin end to-end thereof. Thebar 23is provided with threaded :bores 31 which "open outwardly *of its front face 28 a'bove the iigroove 3T0 for receiving the threaded shanks of headed screws 32 which eX-tendthrough intermediate :portions of clamping members 33. l'Each clamping member 3-3 has an upper leg 35 and a lowr leg-36 which are' disposed substantially parallel to "one another and-at substantially right angles to th'e intermediate portion :34 ot the clamp. The upper legs --35 of 'the clamps 33 are longer *than :the lower legs 36 and the free ends thereof bear :against thefront face 28 t of the-bar 2-3. The shorter lower' legs 36 i bear against ta top side ofia sickle :blade SB near a i back edge thereof which is i disposed in an upperino'st. position and'beneath and adjacentthe screws 32. The sickle blade 38 is of conventional construction --and is providedon its back or underside with a longitudinally extending cleat '39 which is disposed adiacent i its upper or back edge and which seatsin the groove 30. By tightening the screws 32, the clamps 33 are caused to rock about their legs 35 which fulcrum against the face -28 -to cause the shorter legs 36 to be broughtainto=tight engagement with the blade 38 for clamping .said blade between the legs -36 andthe lowerportion of the barface 28 and -for maintaining the clea t 39 fully seated :in the .groove 30, to thus mount the blade 38 immovably but detachably on the blade holding bar 23. With the blade 33 thus supported, its toothed edge, defined by a row (tree-a140, depends from and is disposed below the bottom edge 29'of the bar 23, 'asbestseen infigure 2 A contractile coiled sprin'g 41isco'iinecteii at o'n'e'fejnd by aneyebolt"or similar fastening '42 to theinner side of the bar and extends transversely from said bar and is connected at its opposite end to an eyebolt or fastening 43 which is anchored in and extends upwardly from the table top 8, as best seen in Figure 1. The pull spring 41 urges the parts 10 and 11 to swing about the hinges 13 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 3 to cause the bottom portions 12 of the foot members 11 to assume positions flush on the table top 8.

An elongated plate 44 rests on the upper side of the table top 8 and has a headed fastening 45 extending downwardly through one end thereof and secured in the table top 8 remote from said bar 10. The longitudinal axis of the plate 44 is disposed substantially croswise of the table top 8, as seen in Figure 1. The plate 44 substantially midway of its ends and side edges is provided with an elongated slot 46 which extends generally crosswise therof, which is of arcuate shape and concentrically disposed relatively to the plate pivot 45. A thumbscrew 47 extends loosely through the slot 46 and engages a threaded bore 48 of the table top 8. Thus, by tightening the thumbscrew 47 the plate 44 can be adjustably clamped to the table top 8. A small motor 49, such as an electric motor, is secured on the plate 44 crosswise thereof and near the end of the plate which is disposed remote from the bar 10. A hearing 50 is secured to and rises from the plate 44 near its opposite end and provides a journal for the intermediate portion of a shaft 51 which is likewise disposed crosswise of the plate 44. The shaft 52 of the motor 49 is provided with a belt pulley 53 and a belt pulley 54 is fixed to one end of the shaft 51. An endless belt 55 is trained over the belt puleys 53 and 54 for driving the shaft 51 from the motor shaft 52. A rotary grinding wheel or member 56 of circular cross section is fixed to the other end of the shaft 51. The periphery of the grinding wheel 56 tapers from intermediate of its ends toward each end thereof.

Assuming that the plate 44 is clamped to the table top 8 by the fastening 47 being tightened to position the grinding wheel 56 in a desired location, and further assuming that the sickle blade 38 is clamped to the blade supporting bar 23, as illustrated in the drawing and as previously described, the operator stands to the left of the table top 8, as seen in Figure 3 and grasps the handle 26. The bandle 26 is held so that the blade 38 extends downwardly from the member 23, between the grinding wheel 56 and the bar 10. The blade holder 22 may be slid longitudinally of the table top and the supporting bar 10 by the slidable mounting of its eye fastenings 27 on the rod 19, to position an edge of a tooth 40 to be sharpened for presentation to one of the tapered ends of the periphery of the grinding wheel 56 by swinging the handle 26 rearwardly to cause the blade 38 to be rocked counterclockwise as seen in Figure 3 to thus move the tooth to be sharpened upwardly and toward the grin-ding wheel 56. During the grinding operation of each tooth edge, the handle is manipulated to rock the blade upwardly and to displace the blade longitudinally relative to the grinding wheel 56. It is understood that the grinding wheel 56 is driven by operation of the motor 49 during the sharpening operation. As the sides of the teeth which are presented to the grinding wheel 56 are the sides thereof which face outwardly and upwardly, the operator is more readily able to observe the grinding of the teeth edges than where a tooth is presented to the top of a grinding wheel, so that a more accurate and uniform grinding of the teeth may be accomplished. Depending upon the spacing of the teeth 40 and the taper of the periphery of the grinding wheel 56, in some instances adjacent edges of two adjacent teeth may be simultaneously sharpened throughout at least a portion of the length of said edges.

In order to most efiiciently and accurately grind a desired bevel on each tooth, the axis of the grinding wheel 56 may be adjusted angularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the blade 38 by loosening the fastening 47 and swinging the plate 44 in either direction about its pivot 45 and thereafter clamping the plate 0 the table 8 by tightening the fastening 47. In this manner, the angle of the tapered ends of the grinding wheel 56 may be varied relative to the plane of the tooth 40 being sharpened for sharpening the edges of the individual teeth 40 to any desired bevel. It will be understood that after thus adjusting the angle of the grinding wheel 56, corresponding edges of each of a group of teeth 40 would be sharpened by one of the beveled ends of the wheel 56, after which the angle of the grinding wheel would be readjusted, as previously described, for utiilzing the other beveled end thereof for similarly grinding the other edges of the teeth.

The spring 41 functions to normally hold the parts 10, 11 and 19 in their positions as illustrated in the drawing during the grinding operation. However, the spring 41 is of a proper tension to prevent an excessive grinding of the teeth in that if too great a pressure is exerted by the handle 26 on the holder 22 for-forcing the edges of the teeth against the grinding wheel 56, the spring 41 will permit the parts 10, 11 and 19 to swing counterclockwise, as seen in Figure 3, away from the grinding wheel to thus prevent an excessive grinding of the teeth 40. It will also be understood that different portions of each edge of each tooth will be ground by different portions of a beveled end of the grinding wheel 56.

Normally, the sickle blade will be substantially longer than as illustrated in Figure 2 and only the teeth of the portion thereof which is disposed against the bar 23 will be sharpened, after which the clamp fastenings 32 are loosened and the sickle blade 38 is readjusted to position another part thereof to be sharpened against the bar 23. A longitudinal portion of the sickle blade substantially corresponding in length to the spacing between adjacent eye members 18 may be sharpened without repositioning the blade relative to the holder.

By removing the hinge pins 17 and disconnecting the spring 41 from the fastening 43, the supporting unit 10, 11, 19 and the blade holder 22 can be removed from the table top 8 and may be readily hung up for storage. The sharpening unit including the plate 44 and parts supported thereby may be utilized for other sharpening operations and said unit may likewise be removed from the table top, when not in use, by removing the fastenings 45 and 47.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sickle blade sharpener of the character described comprising a substantially flat horizontally disposed base member, an elongated support member resting on said base member adjacent an edge thereof, hinge means connecting said support member to the base member for swinging movement of the support member outwardly and downwardly with respect to the base member, an elongated rod, means supporting said rod above said support member and longitudinally thereof, an elongated blade holder, means secured to said blade holder and slidably engaging said rod for mounting said blade holder for movement in a direction longitudinally thereof and lengthwise of the support member, said blade holder being nor mally disposed in substantially a vertical plane in an operative position therof and having a bottom portion provided with downwardly opening clamping means adapted to detachably engage the back edge portion of a sickle blade to support the blade with the blade teeth depending from said clamping means and bottom portion and with said blade disposed longitudinally of the holder, said holder having an upper portion defining a handle extending longitudinally thereof, a plate mounted on said base member, a bearing supported by said plate, a shaft journalled in said bearing, a rotary grinding member fixed to said shaft, said grinding member having a periphery tapering from intermediate of its ends toward each end thereof, said bottom portion of the blade holder being disposed between the rod and grinding member for supporting the blade between the holder and the grinding member, and a motor supported by said plate and connected to said shaft for revolving the shaft and the grinding member, said blade holder being manually swingable relative to the supporting member for swinging the blade teeth upwardly and into engagement with the grinding member to be sharpened thereby and being slidably movable relative to the supporting member for positioning the different blade teeth in positions to be engaged by the grinding wheel.

2. A sickle blade sharpener as in claim 1, and spring means connected to the base member and said support 7 member and urging said support member to swing toward the grinding member and toward a position in a plane perpendicular to the base member, said spring means permitting a yielding swinging movement of the support member and blade holder away from the grinding member.

3. A sickle blade sharpener of the character described comprising a substantially fiat horizontally disposed base member, an elongated support member resting on said base member adjacent an edge thereof, hinge means connecting said support member to the base member for swinging movement of the support member outwardly and downwardly with respect to the base member, an elongated rod, means supporting said rod above said support member and longitudinally thereof, an elongated blade holder, means secured to said blade holder and slidably engaging said rod for mounting said blade holder for movement in a direction longitudinally thereof and lengthwise of the support member, said blade holder having a bottom portion provided with clamping means adapted to detachably support a sickle blade with the blade teeth depending from said bottom portion and with said blade disposed longitudinally of the holder, said holder having an upper portion defining a handle extending longitudinally thereof, a plate mounted on said base member, a bearing supported by said plate, a shaft journaled in said bearing, a rotary grinding member fixed to said shaft, said grinding member having a periphery tapering from intermediate of its ends toward each end thereof, the sickle blade being supported by said holder between said supporting member and the grinding member, a motor supported by said plate and connected to the shaft for revolving said shaft and the grinding member, said blade holder being manually swingable relative to the supporting member for swinging the blade teeth upwardly and into engagement with the grinding member to be sharpened thereby and being slidably movable relative to the supporting member for positioning the difierent blade teeth in positions to be engaged by the grinding Wheel, said plate being swingably mounted on said base member, and means for adjustably clamping the plate to the base member in different angularly adjusted positions of the axis of said shaft and grinding member relative to the longitudinal axis of the blade support and sickle blade.

4. A sickle blade sharpener of the character described comprising a substantially flat horizontally disposed base member, an elongated support member resting on said base member adjacent an edge thereof, hinge means connecting said support member to the base member for swinging movement of the support member outwardly and downwardly with respect to the base member, an elongated rod, means supporting said rod above said support member and longitudinally thereof, an elongated blade holder, means secured to said blade holder and slidably engaging said rod for mounting said blade holder for movement in a direction longitudinally thereof and lengthwise of the support member, said blade holder having a bottom portion provided with clamping means adapted to detachably support a sickle blade with the blade teeth depending from said bottom portion and with said blade disposed longitudinally of the holder, said holder having an upper portion defining a handle extending longitudinally thereof, a plate mounted on said base member, a bearing supported by said plate, a shaft journaled in said bearing, a rotary grinding member fixed to said shaft, said grinding member having a periphery tapering from intermediate of its ends toward each end thereof, the sickle blade being supported by said holder between said supporting member and the grinding member, a motor supported by said plate and connected to the shaft for revolving said shaft and the grinding member, said blade holder being manually swingable relative to the supporting member for swinging the blade teeth upwardly and into engagement with the grinding member to be sharpened thereby and being slidably movable relative to the supporting member for positioning the different blade teeth in positions to be engaged by the grinding wheel, said plate being swingably mounted on said base member, means for adjustably clamping the plate to the base member in different angularly adjusted positions of the axis of said shaft and grinding member relative: to the longitudinal axis of the blade support and sickle blade, and spring means connected to the base member and said support member and urging said support member to swing toward the grinding wheel and toward a position in a plane perpendicular to the base member, said spring means permitting a yielding swinging movement of the support member and blade holder away from the grinding member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,191 Jameson Nov. 17, 1868 87,150 Davis Feb. 23, 1869 94,415 Jameson Aug. 31, 1869 434,124 Williams Aug. 12, 1890 956,416 Rawlinson Apr. 26, 1910 1,886,717 Nobs Nov. 8, 1932 2,166,855 Benda July 18, 1939 

